Radisson was playing for their season Saturday night at the Civic Centre as Meota looked for the three game sweep.
The Wheatkings dominated the opening minutes of the tilt, registering seven shots on net before the Combines established any kind of possession.
Radisson wasn’t going away easily in round one of the SPHL playoffs, scoring two unanswered before the game was five minutes old. First, it was Nick Kalnicki doing it all himself in the slot. Then it was Jason Labuik busting down the right wing, firing a cross-ice pass to Dustin Bezugly who one-timed it into the back of the net for a 2-0 advantage.
They made it 3-0 when Troy Rookes corralled a pass from Travis Hudson on the left wing. Rookes released a snapshot, sniping the puck far side from the left hash mark. Luke Favero made the initial pass to jump start the goal.
Shots were 14-5 Radisson after 20 minutes of play.
Michael Pylypow got the Combines on the board with 10 minutes left in the middle stanza. A misplay off the stick of goaltender Carter Bezugly led to a wide open chance for Pylypow in the slot, who made no mistake depositing it over the glove of the Wheatkings netminder. The tally was his second of the playoffs.
Meota buried their second unanswered goal of the period with 13 seconds left. Brody Tatchell danced between two Wheatkings defenders and into the slot before wristing a shot through the wickets of Bezugly. Marc Migneault and Brett Miller drew the assists. It was 3-2 heading to the final frame while Radisson lead the shots department 23-17.
A big giveaway with three minutes left in the defensive zone led to Radisson taking a 4-2 advantage and forcing a game four. Labuik stole the dump attempt before skating into the slot and firing a shot under the blocker of Dallas Wright.
Carter Amson later netted an empty netter to make it 5-2.
Game four will be played tomorrow in Radisson. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.
